Shark Bytes

Everybody saw right through this show for what it was, A low rent knock off of The Sopranos.

Falcone was one of the best not to mention more realistic mob dramas to be aired on television. Sopranos could never compete.

This show was produced in 1997 as a spin-off of the film 'Donnie Brasco' starring Jason Gedric who'd previously been in their critically acclaimed, low rated 'Ez Streets' along with several of 'EZs" writers and producers. CBS passed on it. Then in 1999 'The Sopranos' premiered to great critical acclaim and rating so CBS decided that they'd jump on the bandwagon before the circus left town. Instead of working to improve a flawed show with potential they just grabbed it out of the vault and aired it for a week and a half straight praying from high ratings. Needless to say it tanked. There was one bright spot; a low level mob guy with a new family. Unfortunately he was killed off. Good going CBS!

When I saw the ad for Falcone I was intrigued, but I had no clue if it was supposed to be a series or a mini-series or what? It was weird how they played the show on consecutive nights over I think a two week period. I thought is was a mini-series and did not know it was a failed regular dramatic series. This wasn't a show you could just pick up in the middle though and I think that hurt it's run. I don't think it jumped until the very end, because it sucked the viewer in, but failed to deliver a climax. I was expecting everything to be tied up.

I hated this show from the time I was enticed to view it and comment on it at Universal Studios in Florida in 1997. I told them at the time that I hated it, since most of the characters were really nasty. CBS put it on the air anyway two years later, and it sank like a stone in the ratings.

Listen up, CBS, if I wanted to watch "The Sopranos", I'd turn to HBO.